Global Traveler Announces 22nd Annual GT Tested Reader Survey Awards

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Dec 01, 2025, 09:00 ET

GT Tested Reader Survey awards names the top in the travel industry for the 22nd year

YARDLEY, Pa., Dec. 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The results are in! For the 22nd consecutive year, Global Traveler conducted its GT Tested Reader Survey, asking frequent luxury travelers to name the best in a variety of travel-related categories. More than 20,000 people responded. Global Traveler's inaugural awards were celebrated in 2004.

The survey honors airlines, hotels, loyalty programs and travel-related products in more than 80 categories. GT's distinguished readers vote for their favorites in the world of travel in an open-ended survey running in the magazine and online. The 2025 survey ran Dec. 12, 2024–Aug. 31, 2025. The results of the survey are announced in the December 2025 issue, available now.

"What an honor it is to present the 22nd GT Tested Reader Survey awards — we celebrate the winners' excellence and the recognition earned from discerning world travelers. Congratulations to the winning brands in the travel industry," said Francis X. Gallagher, publisher and CEO, Global Traveler. "Our readers are the heart of this yearly survey; they know the best and they seek out the ultimate in luxury when they travel. The winners' list is a reflection of their knowledge and expertise."

This year's winners will be feted at a reception Dec. 17, at Loews Coral Gables. The event will also honor the 2025 winners of the Wines on the Wing airline survey, previously announced in August 2025. For more information, check out the December 2025 issue of Global Traveler or visit globaltravelerusa.com.

A complete list of winners is as follows:

Best Overall Airline in the World Emirates	Best Aircraft Type Boeing 787

Best Airline Alliance oneworld 16^th Consecutive Year	Best Airline Website delta.com Second Consecutive Year

Best Airline for International First Class Etihad Airways	Best Overall Frequent-Flyer Program United MileagePlus® 22^nd Consecutive Year

Best Airline for Business Class Turkish Airlines Ninth Consecutive Year	Best Frequent-Flyer Elite-Level Program United Airlines, MileagePlus® – Premier 1K Fourth Consecutive Year

Best Airline for Domestic First Class Delta Air Lines Second Consecutive Year	Best Frequent-Flyer Bonus Promotion United MileagePlus® 13^th Consecutive Year

Best Airline Lounges Delta Sky Club® Third Consecutive Year	Best Frequent-Flyer Award Redemption Delta SkyMiles®

Best Airline for Onboard Service Asiana Airlines	Best Frequent-Flyer Customer Service Air Canada Aeroplan Second Consecutive Year

Best Airline for Flight Attendants Asiana Airlines 22^nd Consecutive Year	Best Airline in North America Delta Air Lines

Best Airline Cuisine Turkish Airlines Second Consecutive Year	Best Airline to South & Central America avianca

Best Flight Attendant Uniforms Condor Airlines	Best Airline in Mexico Aeromexico 16^th Consecutive Year

Best Airline for Business-Class Seat Design Swiss International Air Lines	Best Airline in the South Pacific Air Tahiti Nui Eighth Consecutive Year

Best Airline for First-Class Seat Design Cathay Pacific Airways	Best Airline in Europe TAP Air Portugal 15^th Consecutive Year

Best Corporate Program for Business Travelers Delta Business Traveler	Best Airline in Eastern Europe Air Serbia Second Consecutive Year

Best Airline Cabin Cleanliness Air Canada	Best Airport in Asia Incheon International Airport Ninth Consecutive Year

Best Airline in Africa Royal Air Maroc Third Consecutive Year	Best Airport in Europe iGA Istanbul Airport Fourth Consecutive Year

Best Airline in the Middle East Etihad Airways Second Consecutive Year	Best Airport in the Middle East Hamad International Airport, Doha Ninth Consecutive Year

Best Airline in North Asia (Excluding China) Cathay Pacific Airways	Best Airport in South America El Dorado International Airport, Bogotá Eighth Consecutive Year

Best Airline in Central/South Asia & India Air India 12^th Consecutive Year	Best Airport in Africa O. R. Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, South Africa Fourth Consecutive Year

Best Airline in China Air China Second Consecutive Year	Best Airport Staff/Gate Agents Turkish Airlines Ninth Consecutive Year

Best Airline in Australia and New Zealand Qantas	Best Airport Dining Chicago O'Hare International Airport Second Consecutive Year

Best Airline to Japan All Nippon Airways	Best Airport Shopping iGA Istanbul Airport Fourth Consecutive Year

Best Trans-Atlantic Airline British Airways Second Consecutive Year	Fastest-Growing U.S. Airport Sarasota–Bradenton International Airport

Best Trans-Pacific Airline Cathay Pacific Airways Third Consecutive Year	Best Duty-Free Shopping in the World Dubai Duty Free 19^th Consecutive Year

Best Overall Airport in the World Hamad International Airport, Doha Second Consecutive Year	Best Individual Hotel in the World Address Downtown, Dubai

Best Airport in North America Chicago O'Hare International Airport 22^nd Consecutive Year	Best Hotel in South Korea LOTTE HOTEL SEOUL

Best International Hotel Chain InterContinental Hotels & Resorts Third Consecutive Year	Best Hotel in Japan Conrad Tokyo

Best Domestic Hotel Chain The Ritz-Carlton	Best Hotel in Singapore The Fullerton Hotel Singapore

Best Lifestyle Hotel Andaz Second Consecutive Year	Best Hotel Chain in Asia The Langham Hotels & Resorts

Best MICE Hotel LOTTE HOTEL SEOUL	Best Hotel in Europe Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski Munich

Best Hotel Website hilton.com	Best Hotel Chain in Europe The Ritz-Carlton

Best Hotel Rewards Program in the World IHG One Rewards 21^st Consecutive Year	Best Hotel Chain in Latin America Fiesta Americana Travelty Collection Third Consecutive Year

Best Frequent-Stay Elite-Level Program IHG One Rewards - Diamond Elite Third Consecutive Year	Best Hotel Chain in Mexico Fiesta Americana Travelty Collection 15^th Consecutive Year

Best Frequent-Stay Bonus Promotion Hilton Honors Third Consecutive Year	Best Hotel Chain in the Middle East Jumeirah International

Best Frequent-Stay Award Redemption Marriott Bonvoy Sixth Consecutive Year	Best Hotel in the Middle East Jumeirah at Etihad Towers Hotel

Best Frequent-Stay Customer Service IHG One Rewards Second Consecutive Year	Best Rental Car Company Hertz Fifth Consecutive Year

Best Hotel in the United States The Peninsula Beverly Hills 15^th Consecutive Year	Best Tourism Destination Greece Fifth Consecutive Year

Best Hotel in Asia Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong	Best MICE City Seoul 11^th Consecutive Year

Best WiFi Service Starlink	Best Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card from Chase Third Consecutive Year

Best Luggage Brand Briggs & Riley Third Consecutive Year	Best Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card Promotions IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card from Chase Third Consecutive Year

Best Hotel App Marriott Bonvoy Third Consecutive Year	Best Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card Benefits IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card from Chase

Best Airline App Delta Air Lines Third Consecutive Year	Best Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card Redemptions Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Best Small- to Mid-Sized Business Program IHG® Business Edge Seventh Consecutive Year	Best Frequent-Flyer Affinity Credit Card Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature®, formerly known as Alaska Airlines® Visa Signature® Card from Bank of America 14^th consecutive year

Best Offshore Business Location Ireland	Best Frequent-Flyer Affinity Credit Card Promotions Delta SkyMiles® American Express Cards

Best Travel Insurance Company UnitedHealthcare Global Second Consecutive Year	Best Frequent-Flyer Affinity Credit Card Benefits Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature®, formerly known as Alaska Airlines® Visa Signature® Card from Bank of America Seventh Consecutive Year

Best Rail Service/Provider Alaska Railroad Third Consecutive Year	Best Cruise Line Affinity Credit Card Royal Caribbean® Visa Signature® Credit Card from Bank of America Third Consecutive Year

Best Overall Credit Card United Club^SM Card from Chase Sixth Consecutive Year	Special Publisher's Award: Fastest- Developing MICE City Gyeonggi Province Second Consecutive Year

Best Small-Business Credit Card Ink Business Preferred® Card from Chase Second Consecutive Year

Best Credit Card Rewards Program Capital One Venture Rewards

Best Credit Card Design Capital One Venture X

Best Frequent-Flyer Affinity Credit Card Redemptions Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature®, formerly known as Alaska Airlines® Visa Signature® Card from Bank of America

About the Survey
Global Traveler conducted an open-ended survey of its readers to determine the best in more than 80 travel-related categories. The survey was conducted from Dec. 12, 2024–Aug. 31, 2025. Questionnaires were available in subscriber copies of the magazine, online at globaltravelerusa.com/gt-tested-awards-ballot, and through direct mail and email. Only questionnaires with more than 50 percent of the questions answered were considered. An outside accounting firm, Citrin Cooperman LLP, tabulated the results. Employees of the magazine and members of the travel industry were barred from participation.

About Global Traveler
With nearly 1.2 million readers, Global Traveler connects brands with U.S.-based frequent, affluent travelers. According to MRI Simmons, GT readers have an average net worth of $3.1 million and 50 percent are CEOs and owners of companies. Our readers average 18 domestic flights per year and 93 percent travel internationally on a regular basis (18 round-trips in the last three years), mostly in first and business class. More than 85 percent stay in 4- and 5-star hotels, at an average of 180 nights per year. Each year, Global Traveler awards the GT Tested Reader Survey awards and the Leisure Lifestyle Awards.

About globaltravelerusa.com
With more than 5.1 million page views monthly, globaltravelerusa.com offers unique daily content catering to the lifestyle and travel interests of premium travelers who fly all over the world for business and pleasure. A host of positions, including banners, sponsored content and specialty takeovers, are available. Other digital editorial e-newsletters include eFlyer, Global Traveler slideshow, GT Week in Review and Issue Preview. Custom e-newsletters, such as Publisher's Picks, GT on the Go and Premium eDeal, are available for advertisers.

About FXExpress Publications, Inc.
FXExpress Publications, Inc., based in Yardley, Pa., is a privately held company publishing Global Traveler, globaltravelerusa.com, FX Excursions, eFlyer and several annuals. WhereverFamily LLC publishes whereverfamily.com and its related brands, and Trazee Travel, LLC publishes trazeetravel.com. FXExpress Publications, Inc., awards the annual Industry Leader Awards.

SOURCE Global Traveler